IcelandIceland (/ˈaɪslənd/ ( listen); Icelandic: Ísland,
pronounced [ˈistlant])[7] is a Nordic island country in the
North Atlantic, with a population of 348,580 and an area of
103,000 km2 (40,000 sq mi), making it the most sparsely
populated country in Europe.[8] The capital and largest city is
Reykjavík.
ReykjavíkReykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of
the country are home to over two-thirds of the population.
IcelandIceland is volcanically and geologically active. The interior consists
of a plateau characterised by sand and lava fields, mountains, and
glaciers, while many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the
lowlands.
IcelandIceland is warmed by the
Gulf StreamGulf Stream and has a temperate
climate, despite a high latitude just outside the
ArcticArctic Circle. Its
high latitude and marine influence keep summers chilly, with most of
the archipelago having a tundra climate.
According to the ancient manuscript Landnámabók, the settlement of
IcelandIceland began in 874 AD when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfr Arnarson
became the first permanent settler on the island.[9] In the following
centuries, Norwegians, and to a lesser extent other Scandinavians,
emigrated to Iceland, bringing with them thralls (i.e., slaves or
serfs) of Gaelic origin. The island was governed as an independent
commonwealth under the Althing, one of the world's oldest functioning
legislative assemblies. Following a period of civil strife, Iceland
acceded to Norwegian rule in the 13th century. The establishment of
the
Kalmar UnionKalmar Union in 1397 united the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark, and
Sweden.
IcelandIceland thus followed Norway's integration to that union and
came under Danish rule, after Sweden's secession from that union in
1523. Although the Danish kingdom introduced
LutheranismLutheranism forcefully in
1550,
IcelandIceland remained a distant semi-colonial territory in which
Danish institutions and infrastructures were conspicuous by their
absence. In the wake of the
French RevolutionFrench Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars,
Iceland's struggle for independence took form and culminated in
independence in 1918 and the founding of a republic in 1944. Until the
20th century,
IcelandIceland relied largely on subsistence fishing and
agriculture, and was among the poorest countries in Europe.
Industrialisation of the fisheries and
Marshall PlanMarshall Plan aid following
World War IIWorld War II brought prosperity, and
IcelandIceland became one of the
wealthiest and most developed nations in the world. In 1994, it became
a part of the European Economic Area, which further diversified the
economy into sectors such as finance, biotechnology, and
manufacturing.
IcelandIceland has a market economy with relatively low taxes, compared to
other
OECDOECD countries.[10] It maintains a Nordic social welfare system
that provides universal health care and tertiary education for its
citizens.[11]
IcelandIceland ranks high in economic, political, and social
stability and equality. In 2016, it was ranked as the 9th most
developed country in the world by the United Nations' Human
Development Index, and it ranks first on the Global Peace Index.[6]
IcelandIceland runs almost completely on renewable energy. Affected by the
ongoing worldwide financial crisis, the nation's entire banking system
systemically failed in October 2008, leading to a severe depression,
substantial political unrest, the Icesave dispute, and the institution
of capital controls. Some bankers were jailed.[12] Since then, the
economy has made a significant recovery, in large part due to a surge
in tourism.[13][14][15]
Icelandic culture is founded upon the nation's Scandinavian heritage.
Most
IcelandersIcelanders are descendants of Norse and Gaelic settlers.
Icelandic, a North Germanic language, is descended from Old West Norse
and is closely related to Faroese and West Norwegian dialects. The
country's cultural heritage includes traditional Icelandic cuisine,
Icelandic literature, and medieval sagas.
IcelandIceland has the smallest
population of any
NATONATO member and is the only one with no standing
army, with a lightly armed coast guard in charge of defence.[16]

The Sagas of
IcelandersIcelanders say that a Norwegian named
Naddodd (or
Naddador) was the first Norseman to reach Iceland, and in the Ninth
Century he named it Snæland or "snow land" because it was snowing.
Following Naddodd, the Swede
Garðar SvavarssonGarðar Svavarsson arrived, and so the
island was then called Garðarshólmur which means "Garðar’s Isle".
Then came a Viking named Flóki Vilgerðarson; his daughter drowned en
route, then his livestock starved to death. The sagas say that the
rather despondent Flóki climbed a mountain and saw a fjord
(Ísafjörður) full of icebergs, which led him to give the island its
new and present name.[17] The notion that Iceland’s Viking settlers
chose that name to discourage oversettlement of their verdant isle is
merely a myth.[17]
History[edit]
Main articles:
History of IcelandHistory of Iceland and Timeline of Icelandic history
Settlement and Commonwealth 874–1262[edit]
See also: Settlement of Iceland, Icelandic Commonwealth, and
Christianisation of Iceland

According to both
Landnámabók and Íslendingabók, Celtic monks
known as the
PaparPapar lived in
IcelandIceland before Scandinavian settlers
arrived, possibly members of a Hiberno-Scottish mission. Recent
archaeological excavations have revealed the ruins of a cabin in
HafnirHafnir on the
ReykjanesReykjanes peninsula.
Carbon datingCarbon dating indicates that it was
abandoned sometime between 770 and 880.[18] In 2016, archeologists
uncovered a longhouse in
StöðvarfjörðurStöðvarfjörður that has been dated to as
early as 800.[19]
Swedish Viking explorer
Garðar SvavarssonGarðar Svavarsson was the first to
circumnavigate
IcelandIceland in 870 and establish that it was an island.[20]
He stayed over winter and built a house in Húsavík. Garðar departed
the following summer but one of his men, Náttfari, decided to stay
behind with two slaves.
Náttfari settled in what is now known as
Náttfaravík and he and his slaves became the first permanent
residents of Iceland[clarification needed].[21][22]
The Norwegian-Norse chieftain
Ingólfr ArnarsonIngólfr Arnarson built his homestead in
present-day
ReykjavíkReykjavík in 874. Ingólfr was followed by many other
emigrant settlers, largely Scandinavians and their thralls, many of
whom were Irish or Scottish.[23] By 930, most arable land on the
island had been claimed; the Althing, a legislative and judicial
assembly, was initiated to regulate the Icelandic Commonwealth. Lack
of arable land also served impetus to the settlement of Greenland
starting in 986.[24] The period of these early settlements coincided
with the Medieval Warm Period, when temperatures were similar to those
of the early 20th century.[25] At this time, about 25% of
IcelandIceland was
covered with forest, compared to 1% in the present day.[26]
ChristianityChristianity was adopted by consensus around 999–1000, although
Norse paganismNorse paganism persisted among some segments of the population for
some years afterwards.[27]
The Middle Ages[edit]
See also: Age of the Sturlungs

Ósvör, a replica of an old fishing outpost outside Bolungarvík

The
Icelandic CommonwealthIcelandic Commonwealth lasted until the 13th century, when the
political system devised by the original settlers proved unable to
cope with the increasing power of Icelandic chieftains.[28] The
internal struggles and civil strife of the
Age of the SturlungsAge of the Sturlungs led to
the signing of the Old Covenant in 1262, which ended the Commonwealth
and brought
IcelandIceland under the Norwegian crown. Possession of Iceland
passed from the
Norwegian EmpireNorwegian Empire to the
Kalmar UnionKalmar Union in 1415, when the
kingdoms of Norway,
DenmarkDenmark and
SwedenSweden were united. After the break-up
of the union in 1523, it remained a Norwegian dependency, as a part of
Denmark–Norway.
In the ensuing centuries,
IcelandIceland became one of the poorest countries
in Europe. Infertile soil, volcanic eruptions, deforestation and an
unforgiving climate made for harsh life in a society where subsistence
depended almost entirely on agriculture. The
Black DeathBlack Death swept Iceland
twice, first in 1402–1404 and again in 1494–1495.[29] The former
outbreak killed 50% to 60% of the population, and the latter 30% to
50%.[30]
Reformation and the Early Modern period[edit]
See also: Icelandic Reformation, Danish-Icelandic Trade Monopoly, and
Móðuharðindin
Around the middle of the 16th century, as part of the Protestant
Reformation, King
Christian III of DenmarkChristian III of Denmark began to impose Lutheranism
on all his subjects. Jón Arason, the last Catholic bishop of Hólar,
was beheaded in 1550 along with two of his sons. The country
subsequently became officially Lutheran and
LutheranismLutheranism has since
remained the dominant religion.

In the 17th and 18th centuries,
DenmarkDenmark imposed harsh trade
restrictions on Iceland. Natural disasters, including volcanic
eruption and disease, contributed to a decreasing population. Pirates
from several countries, including the Barbary Coast, raided Iceland's
coastal settlements and abducted people into slavery.[31][32] A great
smallpox epidemic in the 18th century killed around a third of the
population.[33][34] In 1783 the
LakiLaki volcano erupted, with devastating
effects.[35] In the years following the eruption, known as the Mist
Hardships (Icelandic: Móðuharðindin), over half of all livestock
died in the country. Around a quarter of the population died in the
ensuing famine.[36]
Independence movement 1814–1918[edit]
See also:
Icelandic independence movementIcelandic independence movement and Fjölnir (journal)
In 1814, following the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark-
NorwayNorway was broken up
into two separate kingdoms via the
Treaty of KielTreaty of Kiel but
IcelandIceland remained
a Danish dependency. Throughout the 19th century, the country's
climate continued to grow colder, resulting in mass emigration to the
New World, particularly to the region of
Gimli, ManitobaGimli, Manitoba in Canada,
which was sometimes referred to as New Iceland. About 15,000 people
emigrated, out of a total population of 70,000.[37]
A national consciousness arose in the first half of the 19th century,
inspired by romantic and nationalist ideas from mainland Europe. An
Icelandic independence movementIcelandic independence movement took shape in the 1850s under the
leadership of Jón Sigurðsson, based on the burgeoning Icelandic
nationalism inspired by the
FjölnismennFjölnismenn and other Danish-educated
Icelandic intellectuals. In 1874,
DenmarkDenmark granted
IcelandIceland a
constitution and limited home rule. This was expanded in 1904, and
Hannes HafsteinHannes Hafstein served as the first
Minister for IcelandMinister for Iceland in the Danish
cabinet.
Independence and the
Kingdom of IcelandKingdom of Iceland 1918–1944[edit]
See also: Kingdom of Iceland, Invasion of Iceland, and
IcelandIceland in
World War II

See also: Icelandic constitutional referendum, 1944;
IcelandIceland in the
Cold War; and
CodCod Wars
On 31 December 1943, the
Danish–Icelandic Act of UnionDanish–Icelandic Act of Union expired after
25 years. Beginning on 20 May 1944,
IcelandersIcelanders voted in a
four-day plebiscite on whether to terminate the personal union with
Denmark, abolish the monarchy, and establish a republic. The vote was
97% to end the union, and 95% in favour of the new republican
constitution.[38]
IcelandIceland formally became a republic on 17 June 1944,
with
Sveinn BjörnssonSveinn Björnsson as its first president.
In 1946, the US Defence Force Allied left Iceland. The nation formally
became a member of
NATONATO on 30 March 1949, amid domestic controversy
and riots. On 5 May 1951, a defence agreement was signed with the
United States. American troops returned to
IcelandIceland as the Iceland
Defence Force, and remained throughout the Cold War. The US withdrew
the last of its forces on 30 September 2006.
IcelandIceland prospered during the Second World War. The immediate post-war
period was followed by substantial economic growth, driven by
industrialisation of the fishing industry and the US Marshall Plan
programme, through which
IcelandersIcelanders received the most aid per capita
of any European country (at USD $209, with the war-ravaged Netherlands
a distant second at USD $109).[39][40]
The 1970s were marked by the
CodCod Wars — several disputes with
the
United KingdomUnited Kingdom over Iceland's extension of its fishing limits to
200 nmi (370 km) offshore.
IcelandIceland hosted a summit in
ReykjavíkReykjavík in 1986 between United States President
Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan and
Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, during which they took significant
steps toward nuclear disarmament. A few years later,
IcelandIceland became
the first country to recognize the independence of Estonia, Latvia,
and
LithuaniaLithuania as they broke away from the USSR. Throughout the 1990s,
the country expanded its international role and developed a foreign
policy oriented toward humanitarian and peacekeeping causes. To that
end,
IcelandIceland provided aid and expertise to various NATO-led
interventions in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq.[41]
IcelandIceland joined the
European Economic AreaEuropean Economic Area in 1994, after which the
economy was greatly diversified and liberalised. International
economic relations increased further after 2001, when Iceland's newly
deregulated banks began to raise massive amounts of external debt,
contributing to a 32% increase in Iceland's gross national income
between 2002 and 2007.[42][43]
Economic boom and crisis[edit]
Further information:
2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis and 2009
Icelandic financial crisisIcelandic financial crisis protests
In 2003–2007, following the privatisation of the banking sector
under the government of Davíð Oddsson,
IcelandIceland moved toward having
an economy based on international investment banking and financial
services.[44] It was quickly becoming one of the most prosperous
countries in the world but was hit hard by a major financial
crisis.[44] The crisis resulted in the greatest migration from Iceland
since 1887, with a net emigration of 5,000 people in 2009.[45]
Iceland's economy stabilised under the government of Jóhanna
Sigurðardóttir, and grew by 1.6% in 2012.[46] Many Icelanders,
however, have remained unhappy with the state of the economy and
government austerity policies. The centre-right Independence Party was
returned to power in coalition with the Progressive Party in the 2013
elections.[47] In the following years,
IcelandIceland saw a surge in tourism
as the country became a popular holiday destination. In 2016, Prime
Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson resigned after being implicated
in the
Panama PapersPanama Papers scandal.[48] Early elections in 2016 resulted in
a right-wing coalition government of the Independence Party, the
Reform Party and Bright Future. [49]
Geography[edit]

General topographic map

Further information: Geography of Iceland
IcelandIceland is at the juncture of the North Atlantic and
ArcticArctic Oceans.
The main island is entirely south of the
ArcticArctic Circle, which passes
through the small Icelandic island of
GrímseyGrímsey off the main island's
northern coast. The country lies between latitudes 63 and 68°N, and
longitudes 25 and 13°W.
IcelandIceland is closer to continental
EuropeEurope than to mainland North
America; thus, the island is generally included in
EuropeEurope for
historical, political, cultural, geographical, and practical
reasons.[50][51][52][53] Geologically, the island includes parts of
both continental plates. The closest body of land is Greenland
(290 km, 180 mi). The closest bodies of land in
EuropeEurope are
the
Faroe IslandsFaroe Islands (420 km, 260 mi);
Jan MayenJan Mayen Island
(570 km, 350 mi);
ShetlandShetland and the Outer Hebrides, both
about 740 km (460 mi); and the Scottish mainland and Orkney,
both about 750 km (470 mi). The mainland of
NorwayNorway is about
970 km (600 mi) away.

Three typical Icelandic landscapes

IcelandIceland is the world's 18th largest island, and Europe's
second-largest island after Great Britain. The main island is
101,826 km2 (39,315 sq mi), but the entire country is
103,000 km2 (39,768.5 sq mi) in size, of which 62.7% is
tundra. About 30 minor islands are in Iceland, including the lightly
populated
GrímseyGrímsey and the
VestmannaeyjarVestmannaeyjar archipelago. Lakes and
glaciers cover 14.3% of its surface; only 23% is vegetated.[54] The
largest lakes are
Þórisvatn reservoir: 83–88 km2
(32–34 sq mi) and Þingvallavatn: 82 km2
(32 sq mi); other important lakes include
LagarfljótLagarfljót and
Mývatn.
JökulsárlónJökulsárlón is the deepest lake, at 248 m
(814 ft).[55]
Geologically,
IcelandIceland is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a ridge along
which the oceanic crust spreads and forms new oceanic crust. This part
of the mid-ocean ridge is located above a mantle plume, causing
IcelandIceland to be subaerial (above the surface of the sea). The ridge
marks the boundary between the Eurasian and North American Plates, and
IcelandIceland was created by rifting and accretion through volcanism along
the ridge.[56]
Many fjords punctuate Iceland's 4,970-km-long (3,088-mi) coastline,
which is also where most settlements are situated. The island's
interior, the Highlands of Iceland, is a cold and uninhabitable
combination of sand, mountains, and lava fields. The major towns are
the capital city of Reykjavík, along with its outlying towns of
Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður, and Garðabær, nearby Reykjanesbær
where the international airport is located, and the town of Akureyri
in northern Iceland. The island of
GrímseyGrímsey on the
ArcticArctic Circle
contains the northernmost habitation of Iceland, whereas Kolbeinsey
contains the northernmost point of Iceland.[57]
IcelandIceland has three
national parks:
VatnajökullVatnajökull National Park,
SnæfellsjökullSnæfellsjökull National
Park, and
ÞingvellirÞingvellir National Park.[58] The country is considered a
"strong performer" in environmental protection, having been ranked
13th in Yale University's Environmental Performance Index of 2012.[59]

A geologically young land,
IcelandIceland is located on both the Iceland
hotspot and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which runs right through it. This
location means that the island is highly geologically active with many
volcanoes, notably Hekla, Eldgjá, Herðubreið, and Eldfell.[60] The
volcanic eruption of
LakiLaki in 1783–1784 caused a famine that killed
nearly a quarter of the island's population.[61] In addition, the
eruption caused dust clouds and haze to appear over most of
EuropeEurope and
parts of Asia and Africa for several months afterward, and affected
climates in other areas.[62]
IcelandIceland has many geysers, including Geysir, from which the English
word is derived, and the famous Strokkur, which erupts every
8–10 minutes. After a phase of inactivity,
GeysirGeysir started
erupting again after a series of earthquakes in 2000.
GeysirGeysir has since
grown quieter and does not erupt often.[63]
With the widespread availability of geothermal power, and the
harnessing of many rivers and waterfalls for hydroelectricity, most
residents have access to inexpensive hot water, heating, and
electricity. The island is composed primarily of basalt, a low-silica
lava associated with effusive volcanism as has occurred also in
Hawaii. Iceland, however, has a variety of volcanic types (composite
and fissure), many producing more evolved lavas such as rhyolite and
andesite.
IcelandIceland has hundreds of volcanoes with about 30 active
volcanic systems.[64]
Surtsey, one of the youngest islands in the world, is part of Iceland.
Named after Surtr, it rose above the ocean in a series of volcanic
eruptions between 8 November 1963 and 5 June 1968.[57] Only scientists
researching the growth of new life are allowed to visit the
island.[65]
On 21 March 2010, a volcano in
EyjafjallajökullEyjafjallajökull in the south of
IcelandIceland erupted for the first time since 1821, forcing 600 people to
flee their homes.[66] Additional eruptions on 14 April forced hundreds
of people to abandon their homes.[67] The resultant cloud of volcanic
ash brought major disruption to air travel across Europe.[68]
Another large eruption occurred on 21 May 2011. This time it was the
GrímsvötnGrímsvötn volcano, located under the thick ice of Europe's largest
glacier, Vatnajökull.
GrímsvötnGrímsvötn is one of Iceland's most active
volcanoes, and this eruption was much more powerful than the 2010
EyjafjallajökullEyjafjallajökull activity, with ash and lava hurled 20 km
(12 mi) into the atmosphere, creating a large cloud.[69]
The highest elevation for
IcelandIceland is listed as 2,110 m (6,923 ft)
at
HvannadalshnúkurHvannadalshnúkur (64°00′N 16°39′W).
Climate[edit]

Main article: Climate of Iceland
The climate of Iceland's coast is subarctic. The warm North Atlantic
Current ensures generally higher annual temperatures than in most
places of similar latitude in the world. Regions in the world with
similar climates include the Aleutian Islands, the Alaska Peninsula,
and Tierra del Fuego, although these regions are closer to the
equator. Despite its proximity to the Arctic, the island's coasts
remain ice-free through the winter. Ice incursions are rare, the last
having occurred on the north coast in 1969.[70]
The climate varies between different parts of the island. Generally
speaking, the south coast is warmer, wetter, and windier than the
north. The Central Highlands are the coldest part of the country.
Low-lying inland areas in the north are the most arid. Snowfall in
winter is more common in the north than the south.
The highest air temperature recorded was 30.5 °C (86.9 °F)
on 22 June 1939 at Teigarhorn on the southeastern coast. The lowest
was −38 °C (−36.4 °F) on 22 January 1918 at
Grímsstaðir and Möðrudalur in the northeastern hinterland. The
temperature records for
ReykjavíkReykjavík are 26.2 °C (79.2 °F)
on 30 July 2008, and −24.5 °C (−12.1 °F) on 21 January
1918.

Around 1,300 species of insects are known in Iceland. This is low
compared with other countries (over one million species have been
described worldwide).
IcelandIceland is essentially free of mosquitoes.[73]
The only native land mammal when humans arrived was the Arctic
fox,[74] which came to the island at the end of the ice age, walking
over the frozen sea. On rare occasions, bats have been carried to the
island with the winds, but they are not able to breed there. Polar
bears occasionally come over from Greenland, but they are just
visitors, and no Icelandic populations exist.[75] No native or
free-living reptiles or amphibians are on the island.[76]
Phytogeographically,
IcelandIceland belongs to the
ArcticArctic province of the
Circumboreal RegionCircumboreal Region within the Boreal Kingdom. Around three-quarters
of the island is barren of vegetation; plant life consists mainly of
grassland, which is regularly grazed by livestock. The most common
tree native to
IcelandIceland is the northern birch (Betula pubescens), which
formerly formed forests over much of Iceland, along with aspens
(Populus tremula), rowans (Sorbus aucuparia), common junipers
(Juniperus communis), and other smaller trees, mainly willows.
When the island was first settled, it was extensively forested. In the
late 12th century,
Ari the Wise described it in the
Íslendingabók as
"forested from mountain to sea shore".[77] Permanent human settlement
greatly disturbed the isolated ecosystem of thin, volcanic soils and
limited species diversity. The forests were heavily exploited over the
centuries for firewood and timber.[74] Deforestation, climatic
deterioration during the Little Ice Age, and overgrazing by sheep
imported by settlers caused a loss of critical topsoil due to erosion.
Today, many farms have been abandoned. Three-quarters of Iceland's
100,000 square kilometres is affected by soil erosion, 18,000 km2
(6,900 sq mi) serious enough to make the land useless.[77]
Only a few small birch stands now exist in isolated reserves. The
planting of new forests has increased the number of trees, but the
result does not compare to the original forests. Some of the planted
forests include introduced species.[74] The tallest tree in
IcelandIceland is
a sitka spruce planted in 1949 in Kirkjubæjarklaustur; it was
measured at 25.2 m (83 ft) in 2013.[78]
The animals of
IcelandIceland include the Icelandic sheep, cattle, chickens,
goats, the sturdy Icelandic horse, and the Icelandic Sheepdog, all
descendants of animals imported by Europeans. Wild mammals include the
ArcticArctic fox, mink, mice, rats, rabbits, and reindeer. Polar bears
occasionally visit the island, travelling on icebergs from Greenland.
In June 2008, two polar bears arrived in the same month.[79] Marine
mammals include the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and harbor seal
(Phoca vitulina). Many species of fish live in the ocean waters
surrounding Iceland, and the fishing industry is a major part of
Iceland's economy, accounting for roughly half of the country's total
exports. Birds, especially seabirds, are an important part of
Iceland's animal life. Puffins, skuas, and kittiwakes nest on its sea
cliffs.[80]
Commercial whalingCommercial whaling is practised intermittently[81][82] along with
scientific whale hunts.[83] Whale watching has become an important
part of Iceland's economy since 1997.[84]
Politics[edit]
Main article: Politics of Iceland

The political system of Iceland

IcelandIceland has a left–right multi-party system. Following the 2017
parliamentary election, the biggest parties are the centre-right
Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn), the Left-Green Movement
(Vinstrihreyfingin – grænt framboð) and the Progressive Party
(Framsóknarflokkurinn). These three parties form the current ruling
coalition in the cabinet led by leftist Katrín Jakobsdóttir. Other
political parties with seats in the
AlthingAlthing (Parliament) are the
Social Democratic AllianceSocial Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin), the Centre Party
(Miðflokkurinn), Iceland's Pirates, the People's Party (Flokkur
fólksins), and the Reform Party (Viðreisn).
IcelandIceland was the first country in the world to have a political party
formed and led entirely by women.[85] Known as the Women's List or
Women's Alliance (Kvennalistinn), it was founded in 1983 to advance
the political, economic, and social needs of women. After
participating in its first parliamentary elections, the Women's List
helped increase the proportion of female parliamentarians by 15%.[86]
Although it disbanded in 1999, merging with the Social Democratic
Alliance, it left a lasting influence on Iceland's politics: every
major party has a 40% quota for women, and in 2009 nearly a third of
members of parliament were female, compared to the global average of
16%.[87] Following the 2016 elections, 48% of members of parliament
are female.[88]
In 2016
IcelandIceland was ranked 2nd in the strength of its democratic
institutions[89] and 13th in government transparency.[90] The country
has a high level of civic participation, with 81.4% voter turnout
during the most recent elections,[91] compared to an
OECDOECD average of
72%. However, only 50% of
IcelandersIcelanders say they trust their political
institutions, slightly less than the
OECDOECD average of 56% (and most
probably a consequence of the political scandals in the wake of the
Icelandic financial crisis).[92]
Government[edit]
See also: Government of Iceland

A 19th-century depiction of the
AlþingiAlþingi of the Commonwealth in
session at Þingvellir

IcelandIceland is a representative democracy and a parliamentary republic.
The modern parliament,
AlþingiAlþingi (English: Althing), was founded in
1845 as an advisory body to the Danish monarch. It was widely seen as
a re-establishment of the assembly founded in 930 in the Commonwealth
period and suspended in 1799. Consequently, "it is arguably the
world's oldest parliamentary democracy."[93] It currently has 63
members, elected for a maximum period of four years.[94] The president
is elected by popular vote for a term of four years, with no term
limit. The elections for president, the Althing, and local municipal
councils are all held separately every four years.[95]
The president of
IcelandIceland is a largely ceremonial head of state and
serves as a diplomat, but may veto laws voted by the parliament and
put them to a national referendum.[96] The current president is Guðni
Th. Jóhannesson. The head of government is the prime minister who,
together with the cabinet, is responsible for executive government.
The cabinet is appointed by the president after a general election to
the Althing; however, the appointment is usually negotiated by the
leaders of the political parties, who decide among themselves after
discussions which parties can form the cabinet and how to distribute
its seats, under the condition that it has a majority support in the
Althing. Only when the party leaders are unable to reach a conclusion
by themselves within a reasonable time span does the president
exercise this power and appoint the cabinet personally. This has not
happened since the republic was founded in 1944, but in 1942 regent
Sveinn Björnsson, who had been installed in that position by the
AlthingAlthing in 1941, appointed a non-parliamentary government. The regent
had, for all practical purposes, the position of a president, and
Sveinn would later become the country's first president in 1944.
The governments of
IcelandIceland have always been coalition governments,
with two or more parties involved, as no single political party has
ever received a majority of seats in the
AlthingAlthing throughout the
republican period. The extent of the political power possessed by the
office of the president is disputed by legal scholars[which?], in
Iceland; several provisions of the constitution appear to give the
president some important powers, but other provisions and traditions
suggest differently.[citation needed] In 1980,
IcelandersIcelanders elected
Vigdís FinnbogadóttirVigdís Finnbogadóttir as president, the world's first directly
elected female head of state. She retired from office in 1996. In
2009,
IcelandIceland became the first country with an openly gay head of
government when
Jóhanna SigurðardóttirJóhanna Sigurðardóttir became prime minister.[97]
Administrative divisions[edit]
Main article: Administrative divisions of Iceland
IcelandIceland is divided into regions, constituencies and municipalities.
The eight regions are primarily used for statistical purposes.
District court jurisdictions also use an older version of this
division.[57] Until 2003, the constituencies for the parliamentary
elections were the same as the regions, but by an amendment to the
constitution, they were changed to the current six constituencies:

The redistricting change was made to balance the weight of different
districts of the country, since previously a vote cast in the sparsely
populated areas around the country would count much more than a vote
cast in the
ReykjavíkReykjavík city area. The imbalance between districts has
been reduced by the new system, but still exists.[57]
74 municipalities in
IcelandIceland govern local matters like schools,
transport, and zoning.[98] These are the actual second-level
subdivisions of Iceland, as the constituencies have no relevance
except in elections and for statistical purposes.
ReykjavíkReykjavík is by far
the most populous municipality, about four times more populous than
Kópavogur, the second one.[57]

Regions of Iceland

Constituencies of Iceland

Municipalities of Iceland

Foreign relations[edit]

Nordic prime ministers and the president of
FinlandFinland visiting the White
House in 2016, with Iceland's Sigurður second from the left.

Main articles:
Foreign relations of IcelandForeign relations of Iceland and Accession of Iceland
to the European Union
Iceland, which is a member of the UN, NATO, EFTA, Council of Europe
and OECD, maintains diplomatic and commercial relations with
practically all nations, but its ties with the Nordic countries,
Germany, the United States,
CanadaCanada and the other
NATONATO nations are
particularly close. Historically, due to cultural, economic and
linguistic similarities,
IcelandIceland is a Nordic country, and it
participates in intergovernmental cooperation through the Nordic
Council.
IcelandIceland is a member of the
European Economic AreaEuropean Economic Area (EEA), which allows
the country access to the single market of the
European UnionEuropean Union (EU). It
was not a member of the EU, but in July 2009 the Icelandic parliament,
the Althing, voted in favour of application for EU membership[99] and
officially applied on 17 July 2009.[100] However, in 2013, opinion
polls showed that many
IcelandersIcelanders were now against joining the EU;
following 2013 elections the two parties that formed the island's new
government – the centrist Progressive Party and the right-wing
Independence Party – announced they would hold a referendum on EU
membership.[101][102]
Military[edit]
Main article:
MilitaryMilitary of Iceland
IcelandIceland has no standing army, but the
Icelandic Coast GuardIcelandic Coast Guard which also
maintains the
IcelandIceland Air Defence System, and an
IcelandIceland Crisis
Response Unit to support peacekeeping missions, perform paramilitary
functions.
The
Iceland Defense ForceIceland Defense Force (IDF) was a military command of the United
States Armed Forces from 1951 to 2006. The IDF, created at the request
of NATO, came into existence when the United States signed an
agreement to provide for the defense of Iceland. The IDF also
consisted of civilian
IcelandersIcelanders and military members of other NATO
nations. The IDF was downsized after the end of the
Cold WarCold War and the
U.S. Air ForceU.S. Air Force maintained four to six interceptor aircraft at the
Naval Air Station Keflavik, until they were withdrawn on 30 September
2006. Since May 2008,
NATONATO nations have periodically deployed fighters
to patrol Icelandic airspace under the Icelandic Air Policing
mission.[103][104]
IcelandIceland supported the
2003 invasion of Iraq2003 invasion of Iraq despite
much domestic controversy, deploying a Coast Guard EOD team to
Iraq,[105] which was replaced later by members of the
IcelandIceland Crisis
Response Unit.
IcelandIceland has also participated in the ongoing conflict
in Afghanistan and the 1999
NATONATO bombing of Yugoslavia. Despite the
ongoing financial crisis the first new patrol ship in decades was
launched on 29 April 2009.[106]
IcelandIceland was the neutral host of the historic 1986 Reagan–Gorbachev
summit in Reykjavík, which set the stage for the end of the Cold War.
Iceland's principal historical international disputes involved
disagreements over fishing rights[citation needed]. Conflict with the
United KingdomUnited Kingdom led to a series of so-called
CodCod Wars, which included
confrontations between the
Icelandic Coast GuardIcelandic Coast Guard and the Royal Navy
over British fishermen, in 1952–1956 due to the extension of
Iceland's fishing zone from 3 to 4 nmi (5.6 to 7.4 km; 3.5
to 4.6 mi), 1958–1961 following a further extension to
12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi), 1972–1973 with another
extension to 50 nmi (92.6 km; 57.5 mi); and in
1975–1976 another extension to 200 nmi (370.4 km;
230.2 mi)[citation needed].
According to the Global Peace Index,
IcelandIceland is the most peaceful
country in the world, due to its lack of armed forces, low crime rate,
and high level of socio-political stability.[107]
IcelandIceland is listed in
Guinness Records Book as "Country ranked most at peace" and "Lowest
military spending per capita".[108]
Economy[edit]

AkureyriAkureyri is the largest town in
IcelandIceland outside the Capital Region.
Most rural towns are based on the fishing industry, which provides 40%
of Iceland's exports

Main article: Economy of Iceland
In 2007,
IcelandIceland was the seventh most productive country in the world
per capita (US$54,858), and the fifth most productive by GDP at
purchasing power parity ($40,112). About 85 percent of total primary
energy supply in
IcelandIceland is derived from domestically produced
renewable energy sources.[109] Utilization of abundant hydroelectric
and geothermal power has made
IcelandIceland the world's largest electricity
producer per capita.[110] As a result of its commitment to renewable
energy, the 2016 Global Green Economy Index ranked
IcelandIceland among the
top 10 greenest economies in the world.[111] Historically, Iceland's
economy depended heavily on fishing, which still provides 40% of
export earnings and employs 7% of the work force.[57] The economy is
vulnerable to declining fish stocks and drops in world prices for its
main material exports: fish and fish products, aluminium, and
ferrosilicon.
Whaling in IcelandWhaling in Iceland has been historically significant.
IcelandIceland still relies heavily on fishing, but its importance is
diminishing from an export share of 90% in the 1960s to 40% in
2006.[112]
Until the 20th century,
IcelandIceland was among the poorest countries in
Europe. Currently, it remains one of the most developed countries in
the world. Strong economic growth had led
IcelandIceland to be ranked first
in the United Nations'
Human Development IndexHuman Development Index report for
2007/2008,[6] although in 2011 its HDI rating had fallen to 14th place
as a result of the economic crisis. Nevertheless, according to the
Economist Intelligence Index of 2011,
IcelandIceland has the 2nd highest
quality of life in the world.[113] Based on the Gini coefficient,
IcelandIceland also has one of the lowest rates of income inequality in the
world,[114] and when adjusted for inequality, its HDI ranking climbs
to 5th place.[115] Iceland's unemployment rate has declined
consistently since the crisis, with 4.8% of the labour force being
unemployed as of June 2012, compared to 6% in 2011 and 8.1% in
2010.[57][116][117]
Many political parties remain opposed to EU membership, primarily due
to Icelanders' concern about losing control over their natural
resources (particularly fisheries).[118] The national currency of
IcelandIceland is the
Icelandic krónaIcelandic króna (ISK).
IcelandIceland is the only country in
the world to have a population under two million yet still have a
floating exchange rate and an independent monetary policy.[119]
A poll released on 5 March 2010 by Capacent Gallup showed that 31% of
respondents were in favour of adopting the euro and 69% opposed.[120]
Another Capacent Gallup poll conducted in February 2012 found that
67.4% of
IcelandersIcelanders would reject EU membership in a referendum.[121]

Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service
industries in the last decade, including software production,
biotechnology, and finance; industry accounts for around a quarter of
economic activity, while services comprise close to 70%.[122] The
tourism sector is expanding, especially in ecotourism and
whale-watching. On average,
IcelandIceland receives around 1.1 million
visitors annually, which is more than three times the native
population.[92] 1.7 million people visited
IcelandIceland in 2016, 3 times
more than the number that came in 2010. [123] Iceland's agriculture
industry, accounting for 5.4% of GDP,[57] consists mainly of potatoes,
green vegetables (in greenhouses), mutton and dairy products.[57] The
financial centre is
BorgartúnBorgartún in Reykjavík, which hosts a large
number of companies and three investment banks. Iceland's stock
market, the
Iceland Stock Exchange (ISE), was established in
1985.[124]
IcelandIceland is ranked 27th in the 2012 Index of Economic Freedom, lower
than in prior years but still among the freest in the world.[125] As
of 2016[update], it ranks 29th in the World Economic Forum's Global
Competitive Index, one place lower than in 2015.[126] According to
INSEAD's Global Innovation Index,
IcelandIceland is the 11th most innovative
country in the world.[127] Unlike most Western European countries,
IcelandIceland has a flat tax system: the main personal income tax rate is a
flat 22.75%, and combined with municipal taxes, the total tax rate
equals no more than 35.7%, not including the many deductions that are
available.[128] The corporate tax rate is a flat 18%, one of the
lowest in the world.[128] There is also a value added tax, whereas a
net wealth tax was eliminated in 2006. Employment regulations are
relatively flexible and the labour market is one of the freest in the
world. Property rights are strong and
IcelandIceland is one of the few
countries where they are applied to fishery management.[128] Like
other welfare states, taxpayers pay various subsidies to each other,
but with spending being less than in most European countries.
Despite low tax rates, agricultural assistance is the highest among
OECDOECD countries and a potential impediment to structural change. Also,
health care and education spending have relatively poor returns by
OECDOECD measures, though improvements have been made in both areas. The
OECDOECD Economic Survey of
IcelandIceland 2008 had highlighted Iceland's
challenges in currency and macroeconomic policy.[129] There was a
currency crisis that started in the spring of 2008, and on 6 October
trading in Iceland's banks was suspended as the government battled to
save the economy.[130] An assessment by the
OECDOECD 2011[131] determined
that
IcelandIceland has made progress in many areas, particularly in creating
a sustainable fiscal policy and restoring the health of the financial
sector; however, challenges remain in making the fishing industry more
efficient and sustainable, as well as in improving monetary policy to
address inflation.[132] Iceland's public debt has decreased since the
economic crisis, and as of 2015[update] is the 31th highest in the
world by proportion of national GDP.[133]
Economic contraction[edit]
Main article: 2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis
IcelandIceland had been hit especially hard by the
Great RecessionGreat Recession that began
in December 2007, because of the failure of its banking system and a
subsequent economic crisis. Before the crash of the country's three
largest banks, Glitnir,
LandsbankiLandsbanki and Kaupthing, their combined debt
exceeded approximately six times the nation's gross domestic product
of €14 billion ($19 billion).[134][135] In October 2008,
the Icelandic parliament passed emergency legislation to minimise the
impact of the financial crisis. The Financial Supervisory Authority of
IcelandIceland used permission granted by the emergency legislation to take
over the domestic operations of the three largest banks.[136]
Icelandic officials, including central bank governor Davíð Oddsson,
stated that the state did not intend to take over any of the banks'
foreign debts or assets. Instead, new banks were established to take
on the domestic operations of the banks, and the old banks will be run
into bankruptcy.
On 28 October 2008, the Icelandic government raised interest rates to
18% (as of August 2010, it was 7%), a move forced in part by the terms
of acquiring a loan from
International Monetary FundInternational Monetary Fund (IMF). After the
rate hike, trading on the
Icelandic krónaIcelandic króna finally resumed on the open
market, with valuation at around 250 ISK per Euro, less than one-third
the value of the 1:70 exchange rate during most of 2008, and a
significant drop from the 1:150 exchange ratio of the week before. On
20 November 2008, the
Nordic countriesNordic countries agreed to lend Iceland
$2.5 billion.[137]
On 26 January 2009, the coalition government collapsed due to the
public dissent over the handling of the financial crisis. A new
left-wing government was formed a week later and immediately set about
removing Central Bank governor
Davíð OddssonDavíð Oddsson and his aides from the
bank through changes in law. Davíð was removed on 26 February 2009
in the wake of protests outside the Central Bank.[138]
Thousands of
IcelandersIcelanders have moved from the country after the
collapse, and many of those moved to Norway. In 2005, 293 people moved
from
IcelandIceland to Norway; in 2009, the figure was 1,625.[139] In April
2010, the Icelandic Parliament‘s
SpecialSpecial Investigation Commission
published the findings of its investigation,[140] revealing the extent
of control fraud in this crisis.[141] By June 2012,
LandsbankiLandsbanki managed
to repay about half of the Icesave debt.[142]
According to Bloomberg,
IcelandIceland is on the trajectory of 2%
unemployment as a result of crisis-management decisions made back in
2008, including allowing the banks to fail.[143]
Transport[edit]

Main article: Transport in Iceland
IcelandIceland has a high level of car ownership per capita; with a car for
every 1.5 inhabitants; it is the main form of transport.[144] Iceland
has 13,034 km (8,099 mi) of administered roads, of which
4,617 km (2,869 mi) are paved and 8,338 km
(5,181 mi) are not. A great number of roads remain unpaved,
mostly little-used rural roads. The road speed limits are 30 km/h
(19 mph) and 50 km/h (31 mph) in towns, 80 km/h
(50 mph) on gravel country roads and 90 km/h (56 mph)
on hard-surfaced roads.[145]
Route 1, or the Ring Road (Icelandic: Þjóðvegur 1 or Hringvegur),
was completed in 1974, and is a main road that runs around
IcelandIceland and
connects all the inhabited parts of the island, with the interior of
the island being uninhabited. This paved road is 1,332 km
(828 mi)[146] long with one lane in each direction, except near
larger towns and cities and in the
Hvalfjörður TunnelHvalfjörður Tunnel (also the site
of a toll) where it has more lanes. Many bridges on it, especially in
the north and east, are single lane and made of timber and/or steel.
Keflavík International AirportKeflavík International Airport (KEF) [147] is the largest airport and
the main aviation hub for international passenger transport. It serves
several international and domestic airline companies.[148] KEF is in
the vicinity of the larger metropolitan capital areas, 49 km
(30 mi) [149] to the WSW of
ReykjavíkReykjavík center, reachable only by
bus services[150] and passenger cars.
IcelandIceland has no passenger
railways.
ReykjavíkReykjavík Airport (RKV) [151] is the second largest airport located
just 1,5 km from the capital centre. RKV serves general aviation
traffic and has daily- or regular domestic flights to 12 local
townships within Iceland.[152] RKV also serves international flights
to
GreenlandGreenland and the Faroe Islands, business and private airplanes
along with aviation training.
AkureyriAkureyri Airport (AEY) [153] and
EgilsstaðirEgilsstaðir Airport (EGS) [154] are
two other domestic airports with limited international service
capacity. There are a total of 103 registered airports and airfields
in Iceland; most of them are unpaved and located in rural areas. The
second longest runway is at Geitamelur, a four-runway glider field
around 100 km (62 mi) east of Reykjavík.
Six main ferry services provide regular access to various outpost
communities or shorten travel
distances.[155][better source needed]
Energy[edit]
See also:
Renewable energyRenewable energy in Iceland

Renewable sources—geothermal and hydropower—provide effectively
all of Iceland's electricity[156] and around 85% of the nation's total
primary energy consumption,[157] with most of the remainder consisting
of imported oil products used in transportation and in the fishing
fleet.[158][159]
IcelandIceland expects to be energy-independent by 2050.
Iceland's largest geothermal power plants are Hellisheiði and
Nesjavellir,[160][161] while Kárahnjúkar
HydropowerHydropower Plant is the
country's largest hydroelectric power station.[162] When the
Kárahnjúkavirkjun started operating,
IcelandIceland became the world's
largest electricity producer per capita.[163]
IcelandersIcelanders emit 6.29 tonnes of CO2 in 2009 equivalent of
greenhouse gases per capita.[164]
IcelandIceland is one of the few countries
that have filling stations dispensing hydrogen fuel for cars powered
by fuel cells. It is also one of a few countries currently capable of
producing hydrogen in adequate quantities at a reasonable cost,
because of Iceland's plentiful renewable sources of energy.
On 22 January 2009,
IcelandIceland announced its first round of offshore
licences for companies wanting to conduct hydrocarbon exploration and
production in a region northeast of Iceland, known as the Dreki
area.[165] Two exploration licenses have been awarded.[166]
In 2010
IcelandIceland was noted by
Guinness World RecordsGuinness World Records as "The Greenest
Country", reaching highest score by the Environmental Sustainability
Index which measures a country's water use, biodiversity and adoption
of clean energies with a score of 93.5/100.[167]
As of 2012[update], the government of
IcelandIceland is in talks with the
government of the
United KingdomUnited Kingdom about the possibility of constructing
a high-voltage direct-current connector for transmission of
electricity between the two countries.[168] Such a cable would give
IcelandIceland access to a market where electricity prices have generally
been much higher than those in Iceland.[169]
IcelandIceland has considerable
renewable energy resources, especially geothermal energy and
hydropower resources,[170] and most of the potential has not been
developed, partly because there is not enough demand for additional
electricity generation capacity from the residents and industry of
Iceland, but the
United KingdomUnited Kingdom is interested in importing inexpensive
electricity from renewable sources of energy, and this could lead to
further development of the energy resources.
Education and science[edit]
See also: Education in Iceland

ReykjavíkReykjavík Junior College (Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík), located in
downtown Reykjavík, is the oldest gymnasium in Iceland

The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is responsible for the
policies and methods that schools must use, and they issue the
National Curriculum Guidelines. However, playschools, primary schools,
and lower secondary schools are funded and administered by the
municipalities. The government does allow citizens to Home educate
their children, however under a very strict set of demands.[171]
Students must adhere closely to the government mandated curriculum,
and the parent teaching must acquire a government approved teaching
certificate.
Nursery school, or leikskóli, is non-compulsory education for
children younger than six years, and is the first step in the
education system. The current legislation concerning playschools was
passed in 1994. They are also responsible for ensuring that the
curriculum is suitable so as to make the transition into compulsory
education as easy as possible.
Compulsory education, or grunnskóli, comprises primary and lower
secondary education, which often is conducted at the same institution.
Education is mandatory by law for children aged from 6 to
16 years. The school year lasts nine months, beginning between 21
August and 1 September, ending between 31 May and 10 June. The minimum
number of school days was once 170, but after a new teachers' wage
contract, it increased to 180. Lessons take place five days a week.
All public schools have mandatory education in Christianity, although
an exemption may be considered by the Minister of Education.[172]
Upper secondary education, or framhaldsskóli, follows lower secondary
education. These schools are also known as gymnasia in English. Though
not compulsory, everyone who has had a compulsory education has the
right to upper secondary education. This stage of education is
governed by the Upper Secondary School Act of 1996. All schools in
IcelandIceland are mixed sex schools. The largest seat of higher education is
the University of Iceland, which has its main campus in central
Reykjavík. Other schools offering university-level instruction
include
ReykjavíkReykjavík University, University of Akureyri, Agricultural
University of IcelandUniversity of Iceland and Bifröst University.
An
OECDOECD assessment found 64% of
IcelandersIcelanders aged 25–64 have earned
the equivalent of a high-school degree, which is lower than the OECD
average of 73%. Among 25- to 34-year-olds, only 69% have earned the
equivalent of a high-school degree, significantly lower than the OECD
average of 80%.[92] Nevertheless, Iceland's education system is
considered excellent: the Programme for International Student
Assessment currently ranks it as the 16th best performing, above the
OECDOECD average.[173] Students were particularly proficient in reading
and mathematics.
According to a 2013
EurostatEurostat report by the European Commission,
IcelandIceland spends around 3.11% of its GDP on scientific research and
development (R&D), over 1 percentage point higher than the EU
average of 2.03%, and has set a target of 4% to reach by 2020.[174] A
2010
UNESCOUNESCO report found that out of 72 countries that spend the most
on R&D (100 million US dollars or more),
IcelandIceland ranked 9th
by proportion of GDP, tied with Taiwan, Switzerland, and
GermanyGermany and
ahead of France, the UK, and Canada.[175]
Demographics[edit]
For statistics on demographics, see Demographics of Iceland.
See also: Icelanders

Reykjavík, Iceland's largest metropolitan area and the centre of the
Capital Region which, with a population of 200,000, makes for 64% of
Iceland's population

The original population of
IcelandIceland was of Nordic and Gaelic origin.
This is evident from literary evidence dating from the settlement
period as well as from later scientific studies such as blood type and
genetic analyses. One such genetic study indicated that the majority
of the male settlers were of Nordic origin while the majority of the
women were of Gaelic origin, meaning many settlers of
IcelandIceland were
NorsemenNorsemen who brought Gaelic slaves with them.[176]
IcelandIceland has extensive genealogical records dating back to the late
17th century and fragmentary records extending back to the Age of
Settlement. The biopharmaceutical company deCODE genetics has funded
the creation of a genealogy database that is intended to cover all of
Iceland's known inhabitants. It views the database, called
Íslendingabók, as a valuable tool for conducting research on genetic
diseases, given the relative isolation of Iceland's population.
The population of the island is believed to have varied from 40,000 to
60,000 in the period ranging from initial settlement until the
mid-19th century. During that time, cold winters, ash fall from
volcanic eruptions, and bubonic plagues adversely affected the
population several times.[9] There were 37 famine years in Iceland
between 1500 and 1804.[177] The first census was carried out in 1703
and revealed that the population was then 50,358. After the
destructive volcanic eruptions of the
LakiLaki volcano during 1783–1784,
the population reached a low of about 40,000.[178] Improving living
conditions have triggered a rapid increase in population since the
mid-19th century—from about 60,000 in 1850 to 320,000 in 2008.
IcelandIceland has a relatively young population for a developed country,
with one out of five people being 14 years old or younger. With a
fertility rate of 2.1,
IcelandIceland is one of only a few European countries
with a birth rate sufficient for long-term population growth (see
table on the left).[179][180]

Population projection
(1 January)[181]

Year
Low
Medium
High

2014
325,671

2015
326,546
326,895
327,464

2020
340,418
342,716
346,279

2025
352,280
357,894
365,893

2030
361,853
371,796
385,405

2035
369,888
384,397
404,053

2040
376,580
395,866
422,047

2045
381,846
406,271
439,756

2050
385,536
415,627
457,317

2055
387,489
423,790
474,561

2060
387,597
430,545
490,976

In December 2007, 33,678 people (13.5% of the total population) living
in
IcelandIceland had been born abroad, including children of Icelandic
parents living abroad. Around 19,000 people (6% of the population)
held foreign citizenship. Polish people make up the largest minority
group by a considerable margin, and still form the bulk of the foreign
workforce. About 8,000 Poles now live in Iceland, 1,500 of them in
FjarðabyggðFjarðabyggð where they make up 75% of the workforce who are
constructing the Fjarðarál aluminium plant.[182] The recent increase
in immigration has been credited[by whom?] to a labour shortage due to
the booming economy at the time, as well as to the lifting of
restrictions on the movement of people from the countries that were a
part of the 2004 enlargement of the European Union.[citation needed]
Large-scale construction projects in the east of
IcelandIceland (see
Kárahnjúkar
HydropowerHydropower Plant) have also brought in many people whose
stay is expected to be temporary. Many Polish immigrants were also
considering leaving in 2008 as a result of the Icelandic financial
crisis.[183]
The southwest corner of
IcelandIceland is the most densely populated region.
It is also the location of the capital Reykjavík, the northernmost
national capital in the world. The largest towns outside the Greater
ReykjavíkReykjavík area are
AkureyriAkureyri and Reykjanesbær, although the latter is
relatively close to the capital.
Some 500
IcelandersIcelanders under the leadership of
Erik the RedErik the Red colonised
GreenlandGreenland in the late 10th century, which until then was only
inhabited paleo-Eskimos.[184] The total population reached a high
point of perhaps 5,000 and developed independent institutions before
disappearing by 1500.[185] People from
GreenlandGreenland attempted to set up a
colony at
VinlandVinland in North America, but abandoned it in the face of
hostility from the indigenous residents.[186]
Emigration of
IcelandersIcelanders to the United States and
CanadaCanada began in the
1870s. As of 2006[update],
CanadaCanada had over 88,000 people of Icelandic
descent,[187] while there are more than 40,000 Americans of Icelandic
descent, according to the 2000 US census.[188]
Urbanisation[edit]
Iceland's 10 most populous urban areas:

v
t
e

Largest cities or towns in Iceland
statice.is

Rank
Name
Region
Pop.

Reykjavík

Kópavogur
1
Reykjavík
Capital Region
121,230

Hafnarfjörður

Akureyri

2
Kópavogur
Capital Region
32,308

3
Hafnarfjörður
Capital Region
27,357

4
Akureyri
Northeastern Region
18,103

5
Reykjanesbær
Southern Peninsula
14,527

6
Garðabær
Capital Region
14,180

7
Mosfellsbær
Capital Region
9,075

8
Árborg
Southern Region
7,889

9
Akranes
Western Region
6,699

10
Fjarðabyggð
Eastern Region
4,675

Language[edit]
Main articles:
Languages of IcelandLanguages of Iceland and Icelandic language
See also: Icelandic name
Iceland's official written and spoken language is Icelandic, a North
Germanic language descended from Old Norse. In grammar and vocabulary,
it has changed less from
Old NorseOld Norse than the other Nordic languages;
Icelandic has preserved more verb and noun inflection, and has to a
considerable extent developed new vocabulary based on native roots
rather than borrowings from other languages. The puristic tendency in
the development of Icelandic vocabulary is to a large degree a result
of conscious language planning, in addition to centuries of isolation.
Icelandic is the only living language to retain the use of the runic
letter
ÞÞ in Latin script. The closest living relative of the
Icelandic languageIcelandic language is Faroese.
Icelandic Sign LanguageIcelandic Sign Language was officially recognised as a minority
language in 2011. In education, its use for Iceland's deaf community
is regulated by the National Curriculum Guide.
English and Danish are compulsory subjects in the school curriculum.
Both languages are widely understood and spoken.[189] Other commonly
spoken languages are Swedish, Norwegian, German and French. Polish is
mostly spoken by the local Polish community (the largest minority of
Iceland), and Danish is mostly spoken in a way largely comprehensible
to Swedes and Norwegians—it is often referred to as skandinavíska
(i. e. Scandinavian) in Iceland.[190]
Rather than using family names, as is the usual custom in most Western
nations,
IcelandersIcelanders carry patronymic or matronymic surnames, patronyms
being far more commonly practiced.
Patronymic last names are based on
the first name of the father, while matronymic names are based on the
first name of the mother. These follow the person's given name, e.g.
Elísabet Jónsdóttir ("Elísabet, Jón's daughter" (Jón, being the
father)) or Ólafur Katrínarson ("Ólafur, Katrín's son" (Katrín
being the mother)).[191] Consequently,
IcelandersIcelanders refer to one another
by their given name, and the Icelandic telephone directory is listed
alphabetically by first name rather than by surname.[192] All new
names must be approved by the Icelandic Naming Committee.
Health[edit]
IcelandIceland has a universal health care system that is administered by its
Ministry of Welfare (Icelandic: Velferðarráðuneytið)[193] and paid
for mostly by taxes (85%) and to a lesser extent by service fees
(15%). Unlike most countries, there are no private hospitals, and
private insurance is practically nonexistent.[194]
A considerable portion of the government budget is assigned to health
care,[194] and
IcelandIceland ranks 11th in health care expenditures as a
percentage of GDP[195] and 14th in spending per capita.[196] Overall,
the country's health care system is one of the best performing in the
world, ranked 15th by the World Health Organization.[197] According to
an
OECDOECD report,
IcelandIceland devotes far more resources to healthcare than
most industrialised nations. As of 2009[update],
IcelandIceland had 3.7
doctors per 1,000 people (compared with an average of 3.1 in OECD
countries) and 15.3 nurses per 1,000 people (compared with an OECD
average of 8.4).[198]
IcelandersIcelanders are among the world's healthiest people, with 81% reporting
they are in good health, according to an
OECDOECD survey.[92] Although it
is a growing problem, obesity is not as prevalent as in other
developed countries.[198]
IcelandIceland has many campaigns for health and
wellbeing, including the famous television show Lazytown, starring and
created by former gymnastics champion Magnus Scheving. Infant
mortality is one of the lowest in the world,[199] and the proportion
of the population that smokes is lower than the
OECDOECD average.[198]
Almost all women choose to terminate pregnancies of children with Down
syndrome in Iceland.[200] The average life expectancy is 81.8
(compared to an
OECDOECD average of 79.5), the 4th highest in the
world.[201]
Additionally,
IcelandIceland has a very low level of pollution, thanks to an
overwhelming reliance on cleaner geothermal energy, a low population
density, and a high level of environmental consciousness among
citizens.[202] According to an
OECDOECD assessment, the amount of toxic
materials in the atmosphere is far lower than in any other
industrialised country measured.[203]
Religion[edit]
Main article: Religion in Iceland

Affiliation by religious movement (1 January 2017)[204]

Church of Iceland

69.89%

Other Christian

11.67%

Other and not specified

9.97%

Unaffiliated

6.06%

Germanic Heathenism

1.07%

Zuism

0.84%

Buddhism

0.3%

Islam

0.3%

Humanist association

0.53%

Bahá'í Faith

0.1%

A church in the northwest of Iceland

IcelandersIcelanders have freedom of religion guaranteed under the Constitution,
although the Church of Iceland, a Lutheran body, is the state church:

The Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the State Church in Iceland
and, as such, it shall be supported and protected by the State.
— Article 62, Section IV of Constitution of Iceland[205]

The Registers
IcelandIceland keeps account of the religious affiliation of
every Icelandic citizen. In 2015,
IcelandersIcelanders were divided into
religious groups as follows:

69.89% members of the Church of Iceland;
11.67% members of some other Christian denomination;
9.27% other religions and not specified;
6.06% unaffiliated;
1.07% members of Germanic Heathen groups (99% of them belonging to
Ásatrúarfélagið);
0.84% members of Zuist groups;
0.53% members of the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association.

IcelandIceland is a very secular country; as with other Nordic nations,
religious attendance is relatively low.[206][207] The above statistics
represent administrative membership of religious organisations, which
does not necessarily reflect the belief demographics of the
population. According to a study published in 2001, 23% of the
inhabitants were either atheist or agnostic.[208] A Gallup poll
conducted in 2012 found that 57% of
IcelandersIcelanders considered themselves
"religious", 31% considered themselves "non-religious", while 10%
defined themselves as "convinced atheists", placing
IcelandIceland among the
ten countries with the highest proportions of atheists in the
world.[209] The proportion registered in the official Church of
IcelandIceland is declining rapidly, more than 1% per year (the Church of
IcelandIceland has declined from 80% in 2010 to less than 70% in
2017).[citation needed]
Culture[edit]
Main article: Culture of Iceland
Icelandic culture has its roots in North Germanic traditions.
Icelandic literatureIcelandic literature is popular, in particular the sagas and eddas
that were written during the High and Late Middle Ages. Centuries of
isolation have helped to insulate the country's Nordic culture from
external influence; a prominent example is the preservation of the
Icelandic language, which remains the closest to
Old NorseOld Norse of all
modern Nordic languages.[210]
In contrast to other Nordic countries,
IcelandersIcelanders place relatively
great importance on independence and self-sufficiency; in a public
opinion analysis conducted by the European Commission, over 85% of
IcelandersIcelanders believe independence is "very important," compared to 47%
of Norwegians, 49% of Danes, and an average of 53% for the EU25.[211]
IcelandersIcelanders also have a very strong work ethic, working some of the
longest hours of any industrialised nation.[212]
According to a poll conducted by the OECD, 66% of
IcelandersIcelanders were
satisfied with their lives, while 70% believed that their lives will
be satisfying in the future. Similarly, 83% reported having more
positive experiences in an average day than negative ones, compared to
an
OECDOECD average of 72%, which makes
IcelandIceland one of the happiest
countries in the OECD.[92] A more recent 2012 survey found that around
three quarters of respondents stated they were satisfied with their
lives, compared to a global average of about 53%.[213]
IcelandIceland is liberal with regard to
LGBTLGBT rights issues. In 1996, the
Icelandic parliament passed legislation to create registered
partnerships for same-sex couples, conferring nearly all the rights
and benefits of marriage. In 2006, parliament voted unanimously to
grant same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples in
adoption, parenting and assisted insemination treatment. On 11 June
2010, the Icelandic parliament amended the marriage law, making it
gender neutral and defining marriage as between two individuals,
making
IcelandIceland one of the first countries in the world to legalise
same-sex marriages. The law took effect on 27 June 2010.[214] The
amendment to the law also means registered partnerships for same-sex
couples are now no longer possible, and marriage is their only
option—identical to the existing situation for opposite-sex
couples.[214]
IcelandersIcelanders are known for their deep sense of community: An
OECDOECD survey
found that 98% believe they know someone they could rely on in a time
of need, higher than in any other industrialised country. Similarly,
only 6% reported "rarely" or "never" socializing with others.[92] This
high level of social cohesion is attributed to the small size and
homogeneity of the population, as well as to a long history of harsh
survival in an isolated environment, which reinforced the importance
of unity and cooperation.[215]
Egalitarianism is highly valued among the people of Iceland, with
income inequality being among the lowest in the world.[114] The
constitution explicitly prohibits the enactment of noble privileges,
titles, and ranks.[216] Everyone is addressed by their first name. As
in other Nordic countries, equality between the sexes is very high;
IcelandIceland is consistently ranked among the top three countries in the
world for women to live in.[217][218][219]
Literature[edit]
Main article: Icelandic literature
In 2011, Reykjavik was designated a
UNESCOUNESCO City of Literature.[220]

A page of
Njáls sagaNjáls saga from Möðruvallabók. The sagas are a
significant part of the Icelandic heritage

Iceland's best-known classical works of literature are the Icelanders'
sagas, prose epics set in Iceland's age of settlement. The most famous
of these include Njáls saga, about an epic blood feud, and
Grænlendinga sagaGrænlendinga saga and Eiríks saga, describing the discovery and
settlement of
GreenlandGreenland and
VinlandVinland (modern Newfoundland). Egils saga,
Laxdæla saga, Grettis saga,
Gísla sagaGísla saga and Gunnlaugs saga ormstungu
are also notable and popular Icelanders' sagas.
A translation of the Bible was published in the 16th century.
Important compositions since the 15th to the 19th century include
sacred verse, most famously the
Passion HymnsPassion Hymns of Hallgrímur
Pétursson, and rímur, rhyming epic poems. Originating in the 14th
century, rímur were popular into the 19th century, when the
development of new literary forms was provoked by the influential,
National-Romantic writer Jónas Hallgrímsson. In recent times,
IcelandIceland has produced many great writers, the best-known of whom is
arguably Halldór Laxness, who received the Nobel Prize in Literature
in 1955 (the only Icelander to win a Nobel Prize thus far). Steinn
Steinarr was an influential modernist poet during the early 20th
century who remains popular.
IcelandersIcelanders are avid consumers of literature, with the highest number
of bookstores per capita in the world. For its size,
IcelandIceland imports
and translates more international literature than any other
nation.[216]
IcelandIceland also has the highest per capita publication of
books and magazines,[221] and around 10% of the population will
publish a book in their lifetimes.[222]
Most books in
IcelandIceland are sold between late September to early
November. This time period is known as Jolabokaflod, the Christmas
Book Flood.[220] The Flood begins with the
IcelandIceland Publisher's
Association distributing Bokatidindi, a catalog of all new
publications, free to each Icelandic home.[220]
Art[edit]
Main article: Icelandic art
The distinctive rendition of the Icelandic landscape by its painters
can be linked to nationalism and the movement for home rule and
independence, which was very active in the mid-19th century.
Contemporary Icelandic painting is typically traced to the work of
Þórarinn Þorláksson, who, following formal training in art in the
1890s in Copenhagen, returned to
IcelandIceland to paint and exhibit works
from 1900 to his death in 1924, almost exclusively portraying the
Icelandic landscape. Several other Icelandic men and women artists
studied at
Royal Danish Academy of Fine ArtsRoyal Danish Academy of Fine Arts at that time, including
Ásgrímur Jónsson, who together with Þórarinn created a
distinctive portrayal of Iceland's landscape in a romantic
naturalistic style. Other landscape artists quickly followed in the
footsteps of Þórarinn and Ásgrímur. These included Jóhannes
Kjarval and Júlíana Sveinsdóttir. Kjarval in particular is noted
for the distinct techniques in the application of paint that he
developed in a concerted effort to render the characteristic volcanic
rock that dominates the Icelandic environment.
Einar HákonarsonEinar Hákonarson is an
expressionistic and figurative painter who by some is considered to
have brought the figure back into Icelandic painting. In the 1980s,
many Icelandic artists worked with the subject of the new painting in
their work.
In the recent years artistic practice has multiplied, and the
Icelandic artIcelandic art scene has become a setting for many large scale projects
and exhibitions. The artist run gallery space Kling og Bang, members
of which later ran the studio complex and exhibition venue Klink og
Bank, has been a significant part of the trend of self-organised
spaces, exhibitions and projects.[223] The Living Art Museum,
ReykjavíkReykjavík Municipal Art Museum,
ReykjavíkReykjavík Art Museum and the
National Gallery of IcelandNational Gallery of Iceland are the larger, more established
institutions, curating shows and festivals.

The old building (Gamli Skóli) of the Menntaskóli, i.e. High School
precinct in Akureyri

Music[edit]
Main article: Music of Iceland

Singer-songwriter Björk, the best-known Icelandic musician

Much Icelandic music is related to Nordic music, and includes folk and
pop traditions. Notable Icelandic music acts include medieval music
group Voces Thules, alternative and indie rock acts such as The
Sugarcubes,
SóleySóley and Of Monsters and Men, jazz fusion band
Mezzoforte, pop singers such as Hafdís Huld,
Emilíana TorriniEmilíana Torrini and
Björk, solo ballad singers like Bubbi Morthens, and post-rock bands
such as
AmiinaAmiina and Sigur Rós.
Independent music is strong in Iceland,
with bands such as múm and solo artists.
Traditional Icelandic music is strongly religious. Hymns, both
religious and secular, are a particularly well-developed form of
music, due to the scarcity of musical instruments throughout much of
Iceland's history.
Hallgrímur PéturssonHallgrímur Pétursson wrote many Protestant hymns
in the 17th century. Icelandic music was modernised in the 19th
century, when Magnús Stephensen brought pipe organs, which were
followed by harmoniums. Other vital traditions of Icelandic music are
epic alliterative and rhyming ballads called rímur.
Rímur are epic
tales, usually a cappella, which can be traced back to skaldic poetry,
using complex metaphors and elaborate rhyme schemes.[224] The best
known rímur poet of the 19th century was Sigurður Breiðfjörð
(1798–1846). A modern revitalisation of the tradition began in 1929
with the formation of Iðunn.[clarification needed]
Among Iceland's best-known classical composers are Daníel Bjarnason
and
Anna S. ÞorvaldsdóttirAnna S. Þorvaldsdóttir (Anna Thorvaldsdottir), who in 2012
received the
Nordic CouncilNordic Council Music Prize and in 2015 was chosen as the
New York Philharmonic's Kravis Emerging Composer, an honor that
includes a $50,000 cash prize and a commission to write a composition
for the orchestra; she is the second recipient.[225]
The national anthem of
IcelandIceland is Lofsöngur, written by Matthías
Jochumsson, with music by Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson.[226]
Media[edit]

Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur, best known for the films 101
Reykjavík, Jar City and Contraband, and television series Trapped

See also:
Media of IcelandMedia of Iceland and Cinema of Iceland
Iceland's largest television stations are the state-run Sjónvarpið
and the privately owned
Stöð 2Stöð 2 and SkjárEinn. Smaller stations
exist, many of them local. Radio is broadcast throughout the country,
including some parts of the interior. The main radio stations are Rás
1, Rás 2, X-ið 977,
BylgjanBylgjan and FM957. The daily newspapers are
MorgunblaðiðMorgunblaðið and Fréttablaðið. The most popular websites are the
news sites
VísirVísir and Mbl.is.[227]
IcelandIceland is home to
LazyTownLazyTown (Icelandic: Latibær), a children's
television programme created by Magnús Scheving. It has become a very
popular programme for children and adults and is shown in over 100
countries, including the UK, the Americas and Sweden.[228] The
LazyTownLazyTown studios are located in Garðabær. The 2015 television crime
series Trapped aired in the UK on BBC4 in February and March 2016, to
critical acclaim and according to the Guardian "the unlikeliest TV hit
of the year".[229]
In 1992 the Icelandic film industry achieved its greatest recognition
hitherto, when
Friðrik Þór FriðrikssonFriðrik Þór Friðriksson was nominated for the
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for his Children of
Nature.[230] It features the story of an old man who is unable to
continue running his farm. After being unwelcomed in his daughter's
and father-in-law's house in town, he is put in a home for the
elderly. There, he meets and old girlfriend of his youth and they both
begin a journey through the wilds of
IcelandIceland to die together. This is
the only Icelandic movie to have ever been nominated for an Academy
Award.[231]
Singer-songwriter
BjörkBjörk received international acclaim for her
starring role in the Danish musical drama
Dancer in the DarkDancer in the Dark directed
by Lars von Trier, in which she plays Selma Ježková, a factory
worker who struggles to pay for her son's eye operation. The film
premiered at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, where she won the Best
Actress Award. The movie also led
BjörkBjörk to nominations for Best
Original Song at the 73rd Academy Awards, with the song I've Seen It
All and for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture
- Drama.[232]
Guðrún S. Gísladóttir, who is Icelandic, played one of the major
roles in Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky's 1986 film, The
Sacrifice. Anita Briem, known for her performance in Showtime's The
Tudors, is also Icelandic. Briem starred in the 2008 film Journey to
the Center of the Earth, which shot scenes in Iceland. The 2002 James
Bond movie
Die Another DayDie Another Day is set for a large-part in Iceland.
Christopher Nolan's 2014 film, Interstellar was also filmed in Iceland
for some of its scenes, as was Ridley Scott's Prometheus.[233]
On 17 June 2010, the parliament passed the Icelandic Modern Media
Initiative, proposing greater protection of free speech rights and the
identity of journalists and whistle-blowers—the strongest journalist
protection law in the world.[234] According to a 2011 report by
Freedom House,
IcelandIceland is one of the highest ranked countries in press
freedom.[235]
CCP Games, developers of the critically acclaimed EVE Online and Dust
514, is headquartered in Reykjavík.
CCP GamesCCP Games hosts the third most
populated MMO in the world, which also has the largest total game area
for an online game.
IcelandIceland has a highly developed internet culture, with around 95% of
the population having internet access, the highest proportion in the
world.[236]
IcelandIceland ranked 12th in the World Economic Forum's
2009–2010 Network Readiness Index, which measures a country's
ability to competitively exploit communications technology.[237] The
United NationsUnited NationsInternational Telecommunication UnionInternational Telecommunication Union ranks the country
3rd in its development of information and communications technology,
having moved up four places between 2008 and 2010.[238] In February
2013 the country (ministry of the interior) was researching possible
methods to protect children in regards to Internet pornography,
claiming that pornography online is a threat to children as it
supports child slavery and abuse. Strong voices within the community
expressed concerns with this, stating that it is impossible to block
access to pornography without compromising freedom of
speech.[239][240][241]
Cuisine[edit]
Main articles:
Icelandic cuisineIcelandic cuisine and Þorramatur

Much of Iceland's cuisine is based on fish, lamb, and dairy products,
with little to no utilization of herbs or spices. Due to the island's
climate, fruits and vegetables are not generally a component of
traditional dishes, although the use of greenhouses has made them more
common in contemporary food.
ÞorramaturÞorramatur is a selection of traditional
cuisine consisting of many dishes, and is usually consumed around the
month of Þorri, which begins on the first Friday after 19 January.
Traditional dishes also include skyr (a yoghurt-like cheese), hákarl
(cured shark), cured ram, singed sheep heads, and black pudding,
Flatkaka (flat bread), dried fish and dark rye bread traditionally
baked in the ground in geothermal areas.[242]
PuffinPuffin is considered a
local delicacy that is often prepared through broiling.
Breakfast usually consists of pancakes, cereal, fruit, and coffee,
while lunch may take the form of a smörgåsbord. The main meal of the
day for most
IcelandersIcelanders is dinner, which usually involves fish or lamb
as the main course. Seafood is central to most Icelandic cooking,
particularly cod and haddock but also salmon, herring, and halibut. It
is often prepared in a wide variety of ways, either smoked, pickled,
boiled, or dried. Lamb is by far the most common meat, and it tends to
be either smoke-cured (known as hangikjöt) or salt-preserved
(saltkjöt). Many older dishes make use of every part of the sheep,
such as slátur, which consists of offal (internal organs and
entrails) minced together with blood and served in sheep stomach.
Additionally, boiled or mashed potatoes, pickled cabbage, green beans,
and rye bread are prevalent side dishes.
Coffee is a popular beverage in Iceland, and is drunk at breakfast,
after meals, and with a light snack in mid-afternoon.
Coca-ColaCoca-Cola is
also widely consumed, to the extent that the country is said to have
one of the highest per capita consumption rates in the world.[243]
Iceland's signature alcoholic beverage is brennivín (literally "burnt
[i.e., distilled] wine"), which is similar in flavouring to the
akvavit variant of Scandinavian brännvin. It is a type of schnapps
made from distilled potatoes and flavoured with either caraway seeds
or angelica. Its potency has earned it the nickname svarti dauði
("Black Death"). Modern distilleries on
IcelandIceland produce vodka (Reyka),
gin (Ísafold), moss schnapps (Fjallagrasa), and a birch-flavoured
schnapps and liqueur (Foss Distillery’s Birkir and Björk). Martin
Miller blends Icelandic water with its England-distilled gin on the
island. Strong beer was banned until 1989, so bjórlíki, a mixture of
legal, low-alcohol pilsner beer and vodka, became popular. Several
strong beers are now made by Icelandic breweries.
Sport[edit]
Main article: Sport in Iceland

Sport is an important part of Icelandic culture, as the population is
generally quite active.[245] The main traditional sport in
IcelandIceland is
Glíma, a form of wrestling thought to have originated in medieval
times.
Popular sports include association football, track and field, handball
and basketball. Handball is often referred to as the national
sport,[244] and Iceland's men's national team is ranked among the top
20 in the world.[246] The Icelandic national football team qualified
for the UEFA European football championship for the first time in 2016
and advanced to the quarter-final to play against France. They
defeated England 2–1 in the round of 16, with goals from Ragnar
Sigurðsson and Kolbeinn Sigþórsson.[247] Following up on this,
IcelandIceland qualified for the 2018
FIFAFIFA World Cup, the smallest nation
ever to accomplish this feat. The Icelandic women's team also excel at
football relative to the size of the country, with the national team
ranked 15th by FIFA.[248] In 2014 the Icelandic men's national
basketball team qualified for the
EuroBasket 2015EuroBasket 2015 for the first time
in the country history.
IcelandIceland has excellent conditions for skiing, fishing, snowboarding,
ice climbing and rock climbing, although mountain climbing and hiking
are preferred by the general public.
IcelandIceland is also a world-class
destination for alpine ski touring and Telemark skiing, with the Troll
Peninsula in Northern
IcelandIceland being the main centre of activity.
Although the country's environment is generally ill-suited for golf,
there are nevertheless lots of golf courses throughout the island, and
IcelandIceland has a greater percentage of the population playing golf than
Scotland with over 17,000 registered golfers out of a population of
approximately 300,000.[249]
IcelandIceland hosts an annual international golf
tournament known as the
ArcticArctic Open played through the night during
the summer solstice at
AkureyriAkureyri Golf Club.[250][251]
IcelandIceland has also
won the most competitions for World's Strongest Man, with eight titles
shared evenly between
Magnús Ver MagnússonMagnús Ver Magnússon and Jón Páll
Sigmarsson.
IcelandIceland is also one of the leading countries in ocean
rowing, Icelandic rower
Fiann PaulFiann Paul became the fastest and the most
record-breaking ocean rower. He has claimed overall speed Guinness
World Records for the fastest rowing all 4 oceans (Atlantic, Indian,
Pacific and Arctic) in a man-powered row boat, as well as the notable
Guinness title of the first rower to ever hold all 4 oceans records
simultaneously, claiming 18 Guinness
Guinness World RecordsGuinness World Records in total
for
IcelandIceland by 2017.[252][253][254]
Swimming is popular in Iceland. Geothermally heated outdoor pools are
widespread, and swimming courses are a mandatory part of the national
curriculum.[251] Horseback riding, which was historically the most
prevalent form of transportation on the island, remains a common
pursuit for many Icelanders.
The oldest sport association in
IcelandIceland is the
ReykjavíkReykjavík Shooting
Association, founded in 1867. Rifle shooting became very popular in
the 19th century with the encouragement of politicians and
nationalists who were pushing for Icelandic independence. To this day,
it remains a significant pastime.[255]
IcelandIceland has also produced many chess masters and hosted the historic
World Chess Championship 1972World Chess Championship 1972 in
ReykjavíkReykjavík during the height of the
Cold War. As of 2008[update], there have been nine Icelandic chess
grandmasters, a considerable number given the small size of the
population.[256] Bridge is also popular, with
IcelandIceland participating in
a number of international tournaments.
IcelandIceland won the world bridge
championship (the Bermuda Bowl) in Yokohama, Japan, in 1991 and took
second place (with Sweden) in Hamilton, Bermuda, in 1950.
See also[edit]

Gateway to Iceland
Government Offices of Iceland
Guide to Iceland
Icelandic Government Information Center & Icelandic Embassies
Visit Iceland – the official Icelandic Tourist Board
"Iceland". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.
IcelandIceland entry at Encyclopædia Britannica
IcelandIceland at Curlie (based on DMOZ)
IcelandIceland from the BBC News
Wikimedia Atlas of Iceland
Geographic data related to
IcelandIceland at OpenStreetMap
Incredible Iceland: Fire and Ice – slideshow by Life magazine
A Photographer's View of
IcelandIceland Documentary produced by Prairie
Public Television

1 Oceanic islands within the vicinity of
EuropeEurope are usually grouped
with the continent even though they are not situated on its
continental shelf.
2 Some countries completely outside the conventional geographical
boundaries of
EuropeEurope are commonly associated with the continent due to
ethnological links.